Bisi: Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Where you’re from? How old
you are?

Eliana:
Of course, I’m seventeen and from Duka Town. My father is Count Hector
Duka-Ovid, but of course you’ve heard of him. He’s the leader and chief
magistrate of our town and Taree village and he’s also one of the richest men
around.

Bisi: Which living person do you most admire? Your dad?

Eliana: My
father? [laughs] No, High Princess Hertha Pia-Petrus of Dural. I thinks she’s one
of the sophisticated and savvy people on Orad.

Bisi: What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Eliana: Cool
tea on a hot day or hot tea on a cool day [laughs]. Okay seriously, I absolutely
love going to silk merchants with my friends when the new consignment is in to
get first pick. I know they come to our house with select samples, but it’s so
much better to go their shops since they’ve got literary thousands and thousands
of the most amazing patterns and colours you’d ever see. The merchants never
bring exciting stuff to our house because they want to sell to my mother and
she dresses kind of boring. That means they’ll only bring boring stuff.

Bisi: What is your greatest fear?

Eliana: [pauses]
Marrying a commoner, losing my royalty and losing my honor, but that can never
happen. I was born this way.

Bisi: What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Eliana: Deplore?
No, there’s nothing wrong with me.

Bisi: What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Eliana:
People too lazy to wash. I get it, poor people can’t afford East Ocean perfume,
but come on everyone can use soap and water.

Bisi: What is your greatest extravagance?

Eliana: [Twirls
her gold hoop earrings] My horses, I suppose. Father says I only need two, but
I’ve got about eight. I’m not a serious rider, but they are all amazing
creatures.

Bisi: What do you most dislike about your appearance?

Eliana: My
laugh, it sounds kind of squeaky at times. Oh and my nails, they’re a bit
yellow right? And my hair, I don’t know how to make it more shiny.

Bisi: What is the quality you most like in a man?

Eliana: His
strength and presence. I love a guy who’s in charge.

Bisi: Where would you most like to live?

Eliana: Rulan,
but our soldiers have to over throw those thugs

Bisi: What is your favorite occupation?

Eliana: Why
would I be concerned about that. That’s for guys to think about—but if I had
to, I’d be the High Princess. Just kidding, if I’m honest, I’ve never really
thought about that. Can I get back to you on that one?

Bisi: Sure, no worries. Okay here’s my final question. What do you most
value in your friends?

Eliana: Having
a brain, you can’t imagine some of the dumb things highborn girls say, but I believe
not a lot them are educated. Their parents don’t let the, but I was because my
mother insisted. I hated it for it, but being able to read has been really
helpful at times.

Sunday, 7 June 2015

Hey Guys and Girls, it’s been a while, but I’m back with a character interview from my current project – Unwish. Today, we’re talking with Argus Pius-Ovid.

Bisi: Good afternoon Argus, thanks for agreeing to talk to me today.Argus: Sure, but you should call me Sir Argus.

Bisi: Sir Argus, of course. Please Sir Argus. How old are you? Where are you from?Argus: Seventeen. I’m a highborn from Duka, Barina Province. I’m a warrior, like my father before me.

Bisi: You’re a highborn? What does that mean?Argus: Basically, it means I’m a noble and of high birth. I’m better than most people—including you.

Bisi: Oh, okay—em, can you tell us, what’s your idea of perfect happiness?Argus: For me, it’s day by the lake with friends, dark wine and a pocket full of gold sheks. Simple things make me happy.

Bisi: What is your greatest fear?Argus: Nothing, fear’s for fools.

Bisi: Seriously, there must be something that scares you or keeps you up at night.Argus: No, because I’m not a coward.

Bisi: What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?Argus: Hmm, that’s kind of a stupid question woman.

Bisi: Okay, but could you try and answer?Argus: [laughs] That’s easy, there’s nothing wrong with me. I love every part of myself.

Bisi: What is the trait you most dislike in others?Argus: I hate girls who don’t know their place, especially plebians. Daya, there was this one trull who acted like she was something—special. She was eventually beaten in line, but she’s still not fully learnt.

Bisi: Are you talking about Ivy? Argus: Yeah, that was her name.

Bisi: You don’t like her much.Argus: [shrugs] I nothing her because she’s completely irrelevant to me.

Bisi: Is there someone you actually admire? Argus: It’s gotta be Amadeus Cadmus-Jonas, he’s just a decent guy—although tries too hard to be honourable, but I like the fact he hardly lies.

Bisi: On what occasion do you lie?Argus: [smiles] Lies make the world go around.

Bisi: I take it you lie a lot.Argus: Why do you care about that? Listen, I’m getting bored.

Bisi: How about this? What is the quality you most like in a woman?Argus: I said it before. I like a girl who does what she’s told, which is what every guy wants. Not that you’d understand. You’re not a man, but trust me it is.

Bisi: Which words or phrases do you most overuse?Argus: Honor—where I’m from people are obsessed with appearing to be honourable. The thing is no one’s totally clear on what that actually means.

Bisi: What is your greatest regret?Argus: [pauses] My father, he wasted his inheritance.

Bisi: So, you’re poor?Argus: I’m a highborn, I’ll never be poor. We get an allowance from King Rasmus, but I’ll never have Cadmus-Jonas money.

Bisi: Amadeus is a Cadmus-Jonas. Does his family’s money affect your friendship? I mean, this grandfather is the wealthiest man in your country.Argus: Nah, Amadeus barely realises he’s rich. He acts like—if you’re asking if I’m jealous or something, I’m not. My family is royalty and no amount of money will make the Cadmus-Jonas more than wealthy butchers. I’d rather die than lose my royal blood.

Bisi: How would you like to die?Argus: [shakes his head] I’ll never die.